Key control system

ABSTRACT

A KEY CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATE MANUALLY OPERABLE KEY WITH FRONT AND REAR ENDS, AN ELONGATE KEY RECEIVER WITH FRONT AND REAR ENDS FIXED TO AND OPERATIVELY RELATED TO A MECHANISM TO BE CONTROLLED, SAID KEY INCLUDING AN ELONGATE TUBULAR SLEEVE WITH AN OPEN FRONT END, AN ELONGATE MECHANICAL COUNTER WITH A CASE, A PLURALITY OF CALIBRATED WHEELS WITHIN THE CASE, A WINDOW IN SAID CASE AND THROUGH WHICH THE WHEELS CAN BE READ AND A FORWARDLY PROJECTING DRIVEN SHAFT OPERATIVELY RELATED TO THE WHEELS, SAID COUNTER ENGAGED WITH AND CLOSING THE REAR END OF THE SLEEVE WITH SAID SHAFT PROJECTING FORWARDLY INTO SAID SLEEVE, SAID RECEIVER INCLUDING AN ELONGATE FORWARDLY OPENING, TUBULAR SHEATH ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY RECEIVE THE SLEEVE, OPERATING MEANS WITHIN THE SHEATH PROJECTING FORWARDLY FROM THE REAR END THEREOF AND HAVING DRIVE PARTS ACCESSIBLE AT THE REAR END OF THE RECEIVER TO CONNECT WITH SAID MECHANISM TO BE CONTROLLED, SAID OPERATING MEANS ENGAGING SAID DRIVEN SHAFT WHEN SAID SLEEVE IS ENGAGED IN SAID SHEATH WHEREBY OPERATION OF THE CONTROL MEANS IS COUNTED BY AND RECORDED IN THE

, J. J. FITZGERALD 1 KEY CONTROL SYSTEM Q Jan. .12, 11971 2 Sheets-$heet 1 T Filed 054 1 1: 51967;

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United States Patent 3,553,988 KEY CONTROL SYSTEM John J. Fitzgerald, 2120 Roselin Place, Los Angeles, Calif. 90039 Filed Dec. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 689,377 Int. Cl. Eb 39/04 U.S. Cl. 70-433 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A key control means including an elongate manually operable key with front and rear ends, an elongate key receiver with front and rear ends fixed to and operatively related to a mechanism to be controlled, said key including an elongate tubular sleeve with an open front end, an elongate mechanical counter with a case, a plurality of calibrated wheels within the case, a window in said case and through which the wheels can be read and a forwardly projecting driven shaft operatively related to the wheels, said counter engaged with and closing the rear end of the. sleeve with said shaft projecting forwardly into said sleeve, said receiver including an elongate forwardly opening, tubular sheath adapted to slidably receive the sleeve, operating means within the sheath projecting forwardly from the rear end thereof and having drive parts accessible at the rear end of the receiver to connect with said mechanism to be controlled, said operating means engaging said driven shaft when said sleeve is engaged in said sheath whereby operation of the control means is counted by and recorded in the key.

An object and feature of the present invention is to provide a novel key-operated control means for controlling the opening and/or operation of a device or mechanism and which is provided with means for recording the number of times the key has been related to its related device or mechanism and/ or the extent to which the device or mechanism is operated, that is, the number of cycles the device or mechanism is operated, the volume of material handled by the mechanism, or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a key means of the character referred to in combination with a conventional gasoline dispensing pump including a latch means for putting the pump into and out of operation and having a computer for indicating the number of gallons of gasoline sold during each period of operation of said pump, said key means being related to the latch means whereby the pump cannot be operated without insertion of the key into a related receiver and said key including a recording device driven by or driven with the computer and adapted to record the volume of gasoline pumped.

It is an object of this invention to provide a gas-pump key construction of the general character referred to which is such that a number of similar but separately identifiable keys to a single pump or to a plurality of specific pumps can be distributed to designated persons so that only those persons can operate the pump and so that the number of gallons of gasoline delivered by the pump or pumps, by each person provided with a key, is recorded on his assigned key.

A general object of this invention is to provide a novel key-lock construction which is such that the extent of use of the keys and/or the extent of use of the means which is controlled by the key-lock is so recorded that control and supervision of the controlled means and of the personnel assigned thereto is made far superior and easier than is possible with present-day control and supervisory methods or systems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel key-lock construction of the character referred to which is easy and economical to manufacture, which is neat, compact, rugged, and durable and which is such that it cannot be tampered with, without detection.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a funnel-type guide means related to the receiver or lock portion with which the key is related and to facilitate easy and convenient insertion of the key.

The foregoing and other objects and features of my invention will become apparent and will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a gasoline pump construction with my invention related to it;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the key that I provide;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmental view showing the lock or receiver portion of my construction in elevation and showing it related to a portion of the pump construction;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view of my new key construction with parts in section to better illustrate the invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the lock or receiver shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the key, taken as indicated by line 6 6 on FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the receiver taken as indicated by line 7-7 on FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 88 on FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a view of another application of my invention.

For the purpose of illustration, I have, in FIG. 1 of the drawings, shown a portion of a conventional gasolinedispensing pump P with my new key-operated control means A suitably related to it. The pump P, as shown, includes a box-like sheetmetal housing H having a flat, horizontal top wall 10, flat, vertical side walls 11 and flat, vertical front and rear walls 12.

One side wall 11 is provided with a recessed receiver plate 13 to receive the neck portion of a trigger-controlled dispenser nozzle 14 on the end of an elongate flexible dispensing hose 15. The hose 15 is suitably connected with a portion of the pump construction remote from that portion of the pump which is illustrated.

A suitably manually operable control lever 16 is related to the plate 13 and is provided with a latch plate or dog 17 which is engaged in a slot in a hand guard 18 of the nozzle 14 to releasably support the nozzle and retain it engaged in the plate, when the construction is not in use.

The control lever 16 is suitably related to a valving and/or switch control means (not shown) within the pump housing and is such that when it is turned to engage and support the nozzle in the manner illustrated, the pump is rendered inoperative and is such that when the nozzle is disengaged therefrom and the handle is turned, the pump is rendered operative.

In addition to the above, the pump is provided with a computer C, which computer includes a plurality of axially aligned, calibrated wheels 20 rotatably carried by a shaft 21, which shaft is supported by a suitable frame 22 arranged in fixed position adjacent the inside surface of the face wall 12 of the pump housing 11. The computer is arranged in the housing so that the wheels 20 occur at and are visible through a suitable window 23 in the wall 12.

The computer wheels D are rotated by a suitable drive means D operatively related to a pump, pump motor or meter motor within the housing H (not shown) and includes at least one driven shaft 24 rotatably carried by suitable bearing means 25 in the frame 22. The shaft has a free end accessible at the exterior of the frame.

The portion of the drive means D between the shaft 24 and the motor, pump or meter motor, can be of any suitable form; for example, it can be a mechanical means involving rigid or flexible driven shafts or it can be an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic drive means without affecting the novelty of the present invention.

The computer is such that it turns the wheels 20 to indicate, at the window 23, the number of gallons of gasoline pumped during each sale or dispensing period. Ordinarily, one wheel, which may be referred to as the first wheel, makes one revolution for each gallon of gasoline dispensed and is calibrated to indicate fractions of a gallon dispensed, ordinarily in tenths of a gallon. The other wheels indicate the gallons of gasoline pumped.

Generally, a gasoline-dispensing pump of the general character referred to and described herein is provided with cancelling means (not shown), which means is related to the control lever 16 and zeros or cancels the computer each time the lever is shifted from its normal off position to its on position. In some instances, a special cancelling or zeroing lever is provided at the exterior of the pump housing.

The foregoing is a general description of the structure and means of a typical or conventional gasoline pump and is set forth to illustrate one typical environment or structure with which my invention can be advantageously related.

Since other details of construction of such pump means can vary widely without affecting the novelty of the present invention, I will not burden this disclosure with furthe illustration and detailed description thereof.

My key operated control means A includes a key K and a receiver or lock R. The key K is an elongate cylindrical structure having front and rear ends 30 and 31 and includes generally, an elongate tubular sleeve 32 with an open front end and an elongate counter 33 with front and rear ends engaged in and closing the rear end of the sleeve.

The counter 33 is a standard, conventional, handmanipulated counter mechanism of the type or class commonly referred to as a speed counter or tachometer and which is produced by Veeder Root Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Conn.

The counter 33 has an elongate cylindrical shell or case 34 and an axially shiftable rotatable shaft 35 projecting from and accessible at the front end of the case and is such that when the shaft is urged axially inwardly against suitable spring pressure and is rotated, as by urging the end of the shaft 35 against the opposing end of another rotating shaft, the number of revolutions or turns of the shaft 35 is recorded by means of a plurality of axially aligned calibrated wheels 36 readable through a crystal sealed window opening 37 in the side of the case 34.

Still further, in one preferred carrying out of the invention, the counter 33 can be provided with supplemental calibrated wheels 36' readable through the window 37, which wheels count and record the number of times the shaft 35 is shifted axially inwardly and, therefore, the number of times the counter (the key in the instant case) is used.

The case 34 of the counter is about 1 /2 inches long and inch in diameter and is provided with a reduced neck portion about 1 /2 inches long and /8 inch in diameter at its forward end. The shaft 35 is about A inch in diameter and projects forwardly from the neck portion about inch and is axially and rearwardly shiftable about oneeight of an inch from a normal free-wheeling position to a drive or operating position.

In practice, the shaft 35 is provided with an enlarged driving head 38 at its outer end. The driving head is a cylindrical rubber part with a forwardly opening conical socket or, as shown, with a forwardly convergent conical tip.

The sleeve is an elongate tubular metal part of substantial longitudinal extent and corresponding in inside diameter with the outside diameter of the neck portion of the counter case, slidably engaged on and about said neck portion and suitably fixed thereto as by means of a suitable epoxy cement.

The sleeve 30 projects forwardly from the counter in spaced relationship about and a substantial distance beyond the shaft and drive head 38 of the counter, whereby Said drive head and shaft are shrouded, protected and essentially inaccessible for manual engagement or tampering.

A number of simple, auxiliary or supplemental means to render the head 38 and shaft 35 completely inaccessible and irreversible are contemplated, but since such means do not affect the essence of the invention and would only tend to unduly burden this disclosure, illustration and further detailed consideration thereof will be dispensed with.

The sleeve 30 is such that it can be made or established of tube stock of different wall thicknesses so as to change its inside diameter and/or outside diameter, is such that it can be formed so that its forward portion is polygonal in cross-section in any desired pattern and is such that it can be formed and provided with inwardly and/ or outwardly projecting or opening longitudinal and/or circumferentially extending beads, ribs, grooves, detents and the like, and to the end that the key can only be effectively engaged in a receiver R established especially to mate with and receive the sleeve portion of the key.

In the drawings, I have shown the forward end portion of the sleeve provided with four circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending, radially outwardly opening channels 39, four corresponding radially inwardly projecting, longitudinally extending beads and a radially outwardly opening annular groove 41 spaced rearward of the rear ends of the channels and beads. The function of the above-mentioned channels, beads and groove will be set forth in detail in the following.

The receiver R is an elongate unit having front and rear ends 45 and 46 and includes an elongate shell-like metal sheath 47 with a cylindrical, tubular rear end portion 48 and a forwardly and radially outwardly divergent, forwardly opening cone or funnel portion 49. The funnel portion 49 has a radially outwardly projecting mounting flange 50 about its forward outer rim or perimeter. The rear portion of the sheath is closed by a metal cap 51 engaged about the rear end portion of the sheath and defines a rear wall 52.

The rear portion 48 of the sheath is of such inside diameter as to slidably receive the sleeve 30 of the key K.

The rear portion of said rear portion 48 of the sheath is shown formed with two circumferentially spaced, radially inwardly projecting, longitudinally extending ribs 53 corresponding in circumferential spaced relationship with two related grooves 39 in the sleeve of the key K. The ribs 53 serve to prevent insertion of the key K, unless the key is in one or two of four rotative positions and prevents insertion of another key of like outside dimension, without such ribs or with ribs of different circumferential spacing, of greater radial extent or of incompatible longitudinal placement and extent.

The receiver R is further provided with a central, longitudinally extending core 54 carried by and projecting forwardly from the rear wall 52 in spaced relationship from the interior of the rear portion of the sheath and with its forward end terminating at a point spaced rearward of the forward of the said rear portion of the sheath.

The core is provided with four circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending, radially outwardly opening channels 55 to cooperatively receive the four inwardly projecting ribs 4,0,;in. the sleeve of the key, when the keyis engaged-in the sheath.

i; It; will -;beapparent that the channeled core further cooperates with the sleeve to ;prevent insertion of an unauthorized; or ,wrong key into -.the receiver R and supplements ,the function of the ribs 53 and channels 39..

The core 54 isshown as having a threaded rear end portion 56 engaged in a central, internally threaded neck 57 formedon the cap 51, that is, on the rear wall 52.

The core 54 has a central longitudinal bore in which an elongate-drive shaft 59 is arranged. The drive shaft 59 is shown rotatably supported in the bore 58 by means of a suitable anti-friction bearing 60 and projects forwardly from-the forward end of the core and is provided with an enlarged head 61 at its for-ward terminal end to mate with and cooperatively receive the head 38 on the shaft '35 of the key K.

v The shaft 59 terminates in the bore 58 forward of the rear end of the core and is provided with a centrallongitudinally extending, rearwardly openingpolygonal opening .63 (shown in phantom lines in FIG. of the draw- 6 of one revolution for each gallon of gasoline that is pumped or which is a special shaft related to the computer and is suitably driven by the computer at a rate of one revolution for each gallon of gasoline delivered.

Since the details of construction of computers employed in gasoline pumps and the like can vary widely without affecting the novelty of the present invention, further specific details of the exact manner in which the shaft 75 is driven will be dispensed with.

With the construction set forth above, it will be apparent that the gas pump P can only be operated by one having a proper key K and that when operated by one having such a key the number of time he operates the pump and the cumulative gallonage of gasoline he dispenses from said pump is recorded.

To illustrate another application of my invention, I have, in FIG. 9 of the drawings, shown my invention A related to a meter motor 76 in a flow line 77 downstream of a control valve 78 in said line. The meter motor 76 is shown as including or as being provided with a suitable gear box 79 with or in which the construction ings) andin which the forward polygonal end of an w elongate flexible-drive cable 64 is slidably engaged.

' In the form of the invention illustrated an elongate guide tube 65 for the drive cable 64 is threadedly engaged in the rear end of the core, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

When the key K is urged into engagement in the sheath, the head 38 engages the head 61 before the front end 30 of the key K bottoms in the sheath. Upon further inward shifting of the key into the sheath, the head 38 is stopped by the head 61 and the shaft 35 of the key is urged rearwardly from its free-wheeling or forward posi tion to its rear driving position.

When the key is thus engaged and the shaft 59 and head 61 are rotated by rotation of the drive cable 64, the counter shaft 35 of the key is rotated and the revolutions of the shaft are recorded in the key.

In addition to the foregoing, the receiver is provided with a radially shiftable spring loaded stop 66 at the forward end of the rear portion 48 thereof, which stop yieldingly permits entry of the key into the sheath and shifts radially inward into engagement in the groove 41 of the key when the key is bottomed in the sheath, thereby yieldingly maintaining the key engaged in the sheath.

With the above-noted spring-loaded detent or retaining means, it will be apparent that the key is not subject to being inadvertently moved out'of working engagement in the sheath or receiver when the key and receiver are made up or fully interengaged.

Still further, if desired and in the preferred carrying out of my invention, I provide a trigger operated control means M, which means includes a trigger 70 pivotally supported or carried at one side of the rear portion of the sheath and projecting inwardly into the sheath through an opening 71 provided therein. The trigger 70 is adapted to operate means to control the functioning of yet other means related to the device or mechanism with which my invention is related. In the case illustrated, the trigger 70 is the trigger of a suitable limit switch 72 suitably fixed to the sheath and which is connected in or with a suitable control circuit in the pump construction P to normally render the pump construction inoperative. The switch 72 could, for example, control the current supply to an electric pump motor or to a solenoid-operated control valve in the pump construction.

In practice, the trigger 70 could be connected with a mechanical control latch device by means of a suitable linkage without departing from the spirit of this invention.

In the form and application of my invention now under consideration, the elongate flexible drive cable 64 extends from the receiver R and is connected with a free end of a shaft carried by the computer C. The shaft 25 is that shaft of the computer which rotates at a rate A is arranged.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A key-control means including an elongate manually operable key with front and rear ends, an elongate key receiver with front and rear ends fixed to and operatively related to a mechanism to be controlled, said key including an elongate tubular sleeve with an open front end, an elongate mechanical counter with a case, a plurality of calibrated wheels within the case, a window in said case and through which the wheels can be read and a forwardly projecting driven shaft operatively related to the wheels, said counter engaged with and closing the rear end of the sleeve with said shaft projecting forwardly into said sleeve, said receiver including an elongate forwardly opening, tubular sheath adapted to slidably receive the sleeve, operating means within the sheath projecting forwardly from the rear end thereof and having drive parts accessible at the rear end of the receiver to connect with said mechanism to be controlled, said operating means engaging said driven shaft when said sleeve is engaged in said sheath whereby operation of the control means is counted by and recorded in the key, the sleeve and receiver defining circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending and radially disposed slidably interengaged ribs and grooves to stop relative rotation of the key and receiver and to prevent insertion of dissimilar keys in said receiver, said driven shaft being yieldingly rearwardly axially shiftable and said wheels counting and recording each time said driven shaft is shifted rearwardly, said driven shaft being urged rearwardly to record engagement of the key in the receiver each time the key is engaged in the receiver to establish driving engagement between the shafts.

2. A key-control means including an elongate manually operable key with front and rear ends, and elongate key receiver with front and rear ends fixed to and operatively related to a mechanism to be controlled, said key including an elongate tubular sleeve with an open front end, an elongate mechanical counter with a case, a plurality of calibrated wheels within the case, a window in said case and through which the wheels can be read and a forwardly projecting driven shaft operatively related to the wheels, said counter engaged with and closing the rear end of the sleeve with said shaft projecting forwardly into said sleeve, said receiver including an elongate forwardly opening, tubular sheath adapted to slidably receive the sleeve, operating means within the sheath projecting forwardly from the rear end thereof and having drive parts accessible at the rear end of the receiver to conmeet with said mechanism to be controlled, said operating means engaging said driven shaft when said sleeve is engaged in said sheath whereby operation of the control means is counted by and recorded in the key, the sleeve and receiver defining circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending and radially disposed slidably interengaged ribs and grooves to stop relative rotation of the key and receiver and to prevent insertion of dissimilar keys in said receiver, said driven shaft being yieldingly rearwardly axially shiftable and said wheels counting and recording each time said driven shaft is shifted rearwardly, said driven shaft being urged rearwardly to record engagement of the key in the receiver each time the key is engaged in the receiver and driving engagement is established between the sheath, said sleeve having a radially outwardly opening circumferentially extending groove spaced between its ends and said sheath having UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,074,418 9/1913 Doughty 70-453 2,557,028 6/195'1 Deutsch 70363 3,138,780 6/1964 Jacobsen 34052 2,087,665 7/1937 Green 222--26 STEPHEN J. NOVOSAD, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 703 87, 404 

